With ALL the talk of blown motors, I would LOVE to see a comparison as a % of how many Toyota motors suffered catastrophic failure due to their massive engine sludge issue.

I doubt no one that says they have a blown motor, but you have to keep in mind that out of....40,000???....8s produced, we have no statistics available to us from any reliable source giving us such a %.

I will say that Mazda's lengthening the power train warranty to 5 years or 60k miles is NOT acceptable, however. They could do much better by their customer base and just cover any catastrophic failures that aren't due to clear owner abuse or neglect.

 

got to tell you . the toyota sludge issue on was real.

as the nissan 350z motor problem..

it happens..

so sell the car or take a chance?

or start a class action law suit. so everyone gets fkd..

neglect is subjective.. abuse has really not been an issue.

beers

 

Mazda has the rap and surveys to back it up as being the worst service provider in the auto industry. If it took that much presser to get Toyota to step up, your going to need a gun put to the head of their CEO to get and action from Mazda.

There is obviously a design defect with the RX-8's engine that has not been corrected. A TBS band aid has been issued to help the engine survey past the warranty period. If Mazda really wants people to believe in their efforts back it up with a 100K/10 year warranty on the engine. Based on the problems this car is having this is not an unreasonable request.

 

True, but when you buy a new car you have the expectation of getting a vehicle that has been properly tested and debugged with out any major design flaws that would go beyond what one would expect. The warranty is designed to cover the odd failure, all components will get a defective unit from time to time. When a major component begins to fail at a rate far beyond industry norms and the cause of the failure has been identified with out a long term solution provided by the manufacture. You expect something to be done to cover your investment, you expect the manufacture to live up to their obligation. If they don't they will not be in business long.

 

I'm not really saying they shouldn't do anything if there is an out right issue that effects all 8's, but I've yet to see any evidence of this issue effecting a good number of 8's as of yet. Some, I believe, are on a third engine in 30k miles. Mines almost at 40k miles with original engine. What is the difference? An automatic? A 2004 (which doesn't make sense because wouldn't they replace his original engine with one on par with the one in my car)? Are the reman's crap? What is this design flaw or issue and how come it doesn't effect all 8's? It's still to early as most 8's still don't have enough miles to see what will happen. If the number of engine failures increase as the cars come out of warranty then that's different. I say those that feel this strongly about it should get a petition going if they're that concerned because a majority of 8 owners don't seem to be which is what Mazda would be paying attention to.

 

Are these problems true engine failures or is Mazda simply replacing them out of ease, then studying the problem with the pulled engine outside of the dealer to see what the issue might be? Everyone assumes since the engine is being replaced that the original one has totally failed. I don't think the individual dealers are capable or trained on what to do when the 8's engine experiences any problems.

 

add me to the list....engine went to heaven this past weekend with 66k miles. front rotor compression numbers at low 4's......11 mo to pay it off......I'm pissed to say the least......last Mazda for me....anybody know how the class action law suits on this are coming?

 

This is what scares me... 6k past the warranty...

 

Sorry to read that OP. AT, 2004 and driven like a neeny is not good for a rotary. Every car mfg has its own share of problems. BMWs with their water pump issue that dates back to the e36 and still yet to be resolved. Don't forget the S54 blowing up too. then we have the latest Accords with its tranny recall, speaking of that how about the so-called glass trannys of the WRX? Then there's the various suspension design problems with the Z/G35 that there is a class action lawsuit going on. And we know that Lemon is the norm with VAG products rather than the exception. So yeah the Renesis (early ones with 04) are not well designed therefore leading to problems. But am glad at least Mazda is trying to do something about it rather than ignore it. The MX-5 is a fun car and the engine is stout. Go for it. I like the PRHT.

 

Man now i'm concerned, just a tad, with mine. I got an 04 MT used, but so far its been extremely solid. Just past the 40K mark so i'm gonna keep my fingers crossed. I looked through the service records when i got it, i was lucky enough to get a car that has visited the same dealership for everything, and I didn't see any engine replacements in the past, so here is hoping...

 

You do realise that the engine has not really changed except for engine flashes. I also don't think the guy a few posts up with the blown engine, 6K out of warranty, would agree that Mazda is doing all they can. I noticed his car was a 6sp and based on the modifications I seriously doubt he drove it like a neeny.

The conditions you quote do lend themselves to failure which is unacceptable to start with. A lot of people here seem to feel that if you drive the car lightly that it is completely acceptable to have the engine fail, it is some how the owners fault. A engine should not fail under normal driving conditions. Also some guys who really hammer on it also have failures. Mazda sold a faulty product and needs to corrected it and stand be hind. A 100K/10 year warranty is a good start.

Finally why in the world would this guy buy another Mazda when a the one he had failed with a known problem and Mazda is leaving him to blow in the wind????

 

my august '03 25k 6mt yellow rx-8 compression results

c/o go48

all 04's arent blowing up

 

Lol Bryan, that's very few miles, still good to see good numbers, though.

 

Swoope, Raptor, I can guarantee you the Toyota sludge problem was real, widespread and inherently attributable to a design defect in that particular motor.

Toyota fought and fought owners on it, even those who had all maintenance records, until California's Attorney General filed a class action lawsuit.

Then, they suddenly began giving a 100k warranty and reimbursing owners who paid for new motors out of pocket that had that problem.

That motor was a V6 and was used in many Toyota vehicles.

 

hey flash.

i would give mazda north america call.. explain the situation.. see what happens..

were you premixing? btw, the front rotor is a new one.

i am disappointed that you will not be at rr. as i was going to request you as my instructor.

good luck.

beers

 

Mine went at 58,800. Phlash's going right after mine has sent shock waves among our gang here in GA. The milage that these engines seem to be going at is scary.

 

Sorry swoope, nobody is as bummed as me.....

details:

Drive like a neeny??? Please.........

ran 5w/30 all her life...never premixed

No grenade......been driving just fine. Did a track event at Barber a month ago with absolutely no issues.

I was coming back from the Nashville airport (car running just fine) and stopped in Manchester, TN for some grub. Inside maybe an hour or so. Came back out cranked the car......it was shaking violently. Threw codes (301) immediately. Turned her off and tried again.....same thing. stumbled but wouldn't die. Popping the throttle made the thing shake worse. It would stabilize around 4k RPM and stay stable until 6k RPM then it sounded like the side was about to explode....thrashed and thrashed.......I got in and tried a test drive to the gas station....filled the car and started her up again (starting was hard..not like a battery was going to die, but like gas starvation). Limped home over the mountain and got it home, looked under the car to see the cat glowing the color of the car.

Saturday I took plugs out and looked at them (they were fine), looked at coils (fine), cleaned the MAF, pulled the trailing plugs and the shaft sensor and listened for a consistent sound. The sound was the same between both front and rear but the rear was much louder but sounded exactly the same (should have known then). What ever I did in all that helped with the violent shaking but there was still an issue. I need to note, that for the most part the idle stayed relatively calm...just the occasional burp that I have had since I got the car. I cleared the CEL and limped it down to Charlie (MazCare) Sunday am. No code (CEL)....much better drive down than the trip from Nashville.

Charlie ran multiple compression tests on it. Rear rotor in the 6's, front rotor 4's...but equal on each side...which would make one think that it was a carbon issue. If a seal has gone south, the compression would only show stable on one side of the rotor. So.....we tried the new Mazda TSB Carbon cleaning........same compression results.....same sad story...motor time. The only issue I have had of late was some occasional pinging under load. Ran 44k through it and that went away..then this.

We have found an engine that Charlie and company are pleased with and will probably end up going that route. I am waiting on a phone call from Mazda (placed by a Mazda mechanic that has worked on my car forever at the Mazda dealership and knows the history of the car), to give me the official "go pound sand...you're outta warranty and you have cost us too much already. C-ya bye...come again" speech.

So, the car will get fixed to the best of Charlie's ability. I will be out a **** load of money (six more months worth of payments now) for something, that despite my best efforts, happened that shouldn't have at 66k miles and 11 payments to go. Over the next few months I will be test driving all sorts of cars. Before the car is officially "paid off" it will be gone and I will be out the new engine money all the wiser in my knowledge of rotary ownership. I will never have another Mazda product and will go out of my way to not recommend a Mazda to any folks that may ask about it. That includes friends or foes. This is a Mazda issue, and they need to address it regardless of how the rest of their models line up . This is their flagship for Christs sake. I hate it...I have enjoyed this car more than any other I have ever had. Even after the tranny issue, I had all the plans in the world to keep it. But this is the last straw. I will wash my hands of this car and gladly be a part of any class actions that may come up in the future concerning this same type of failure from my fellow rotary brothers. As these cars age...there will be more of this issue I'm sure. It will be a great thing for Charlie and company.

Positives? Yes....I have meet some of the greatest folks because of this car and have some lifelong friendships and memories that I will always cherish. Yes, you can drive this thing on one good rotor...it's not happy about it, but you can...I did it over the mountain and to Atlanta as it's final resting place.

For the sake of asking...what is the best phone number to use to contact Mazda NA about this to make my final plea?

 

Phlash,

I am very sorry to hear about you engine, and this is exactly what I was worried would happen, an engine failure after warranty expired. Crazy as it sounds.. My wife is getting the Miata. It is an awesomely fun car to drive and the reliability record is good. I know they had some engine issues at one time but the difference is the found what the problem whas and fixed it.
So as soon as the 8 motor gets replaced we are doing the deal on the MX-5 PRHT.

 

BMW Z3 Subframe cracking.. class action pending!

 

Phlash, hate to say, but it's probably sound advice:


Call an attorney that specializes in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, especially as applied to cars. Mazda has a known problem here. There are a variety of great and hard to defeat legal claims a good attorney could present by way of a formal complaint if Mazda doesn't agree to cover the cost.

Mazda wouldn't want to have to argue this case in front of a jury.

 

That's on the list. I want to give Mazda a chance to reply. I am supposed to have an answer by the end of the week. I have a really good dealer and mechanic pulling for me on this one. They have the history on the car (they have done the majority of the work on it), know how the car is kept up, and they have a good report with the regional service DM....so, I'm down, but not totally out. If they say "no" I move on, get it fixed and then chase reimbursement. Oh trust me...I won't let this die......for the sake of all of us, I won't let this die.......

 

Man I am sorry. I am in the same boat right now, just mine was still under warranty, but I would have been screwed if it wasn't.

 

What's your mileage??

 

48,000 and my tranny had gone out too.

I'm 18, I wouldn't have had the ability to shovel out $8k+ to replace the engine and tranny.

By the way, I am a legal secretary, let me know if I can help

 

mine also went around this same milage ring as well.. 58300.. and yea it is kinda scary where they are going at..i own an 04 MT.. and to be honest.. ive own the car for about a year and a half now and its been at the dealership for warranty work f=more than ive driven it... but i just cant let it go.. its sooo much fun to drive.. i hope you stick with the car man.. it truly is one of a kind